Interior-player piano.



M. CLARK.

INTERIOR PLAYER PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.13, 1909.

Patented Jan'. v16, 1912.

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INTERIOR PLAYER PIANO.

' APPLICATION FILED Amma, 1909. 1,014,810, Patented Jm.'16,1912.

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INTERIOR PLAYER PIANO. APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1909. l

Patented J an. 16, 1912.

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MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERIOR-PLAYER PIANO.

To all whom t may concern Be it known t-hat I, MELVILLE CLARK, a citizenof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inInterior-Player Pianos, of which the following is a specication,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partthereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction forinterior player pianos adapted for playing melody and accompaniment forgiving prominence to any particular part of the music above t-heremainder.

It consists of the features of construction and their combinations shownand described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a fore-andaft vertical section of aportion of a piano equipped with devices constituting this invention.Fig. 2 is a partly sectional rear elevation of the devices shown in Fig.l, section being made at the line 2-2 on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a partlysectional plan view at the line 3 3 on Fig. 1. Fig. l is a detailsection at the line 4--4 on Fig. l. Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of thetracker board. Fig. 6 is a section at the line 6-6 on Fig. 3 showing theslide at closed position. Fig. 7 is a section at the line 7-7 on Fig. 3showing the slide at closed position.

In the drawings, the customary parts of a piano of ordinary constructionare shown in customary form, comprising the foundation board or base, A,manual keys, B, mounted thereabove having customary devices for engagingthe piano action, a portion of which is conventionally represented toindicate the position of the remaining parts relatively thereto.

The customary pumping devices for producing proper exhaust tension foroperating pneumatic actions may be understood as embodied in theconstruction and as comprising a high tension and low tension chamberindicated by rudimentary portions thereof at C and D, respectively. Thedevices for producing the different tension of the two chambers are notshown, but may be of any well known form and structure.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 13, 1909.

Patented J an. 16,1912.

Serial No. 489,624.

From these low tension and high tension chambers, respectively, aretrunks, d and c, leading to the principal and supplemental actionsrespectively.

Above the manual keys within the piano case, there is located aprincipal pneumatic action comprising motor pneumatics, E, mounted uponaprimary pneumatic chamber, El, containing primary pneumatics, e, all ofsaid elements being of usual construction and relation to each other,the motor pneumatics being projected forward from the primary pneumaticchamber, having their moving walls upward for collapse downward. Theoperating ends of said moving walls overhang the manual keys for actiondownward thereon by means of the pitmen, E2, forward of the fulcrums ofthe keys. Below the foundation board and under the portion of the manualkeys rearward of their fulcrums, there is located a supplemental actioncomprising motor pneumatics, F, mounted upon the rear side of theprimary pneumatic chamber, F1, containing primary pneumatics, f, themotor pneumatics being mounted with their moving walls downward forcollapse upward, and positioned for acting upwardly by means of theupwardly thrust pitmen, F2, upon the rear ends of the manual keys, B.

The tracker device for use with the two actions described is illustratedin the form in which it is fully shown and claimed in my applicationSerial No. 488625 filed April 8, 1909, and the same will be furtherdescribed in detail here only sufficiently to show the relation of itsparts to the two pneumatic actions when the latter are separated by themanual keys and foundation board as described. The tracker devicecomprises the tracker board, H, which has two rows of tracker mouths andcorresponding sets of tracker ducts, which it may be understood aredifferently spaced to accommodate perforated sheets cut to differentscales. The upper of said rows of mouths and ducts indicated bytheletter, G, may be understood to be the wider spaced, but the presentinvention is not concerned with this set, and it is illustrated only toindicate that the construction here shown is not inconsist- ./ent withthe presence and use of such set.

In the further description, however, it may be understood that the partsare adjusted for cutting this set out of service and that thedescription relates to the devices as thusv adjusted. The other set oftracker mouths and ducts, indicated generally by the letter, H, at theportion of the ducts which is contained between the front rib, HX, andthe rear rib, Hy, projecting downwardly from the front and rear edges,respectively, of the tracker board, comprises three groups, a middlegroup, H1, appropriated to playing the accompaniment or principal parts,the group or groups, H2, part at each end, appropriated to playing themelody or secondary part, and a third group or groups, H3, located intwo parts intermediate the middle unitary group, H1, and the extremeparted group or groups, H2 respectively, said third group being designedfor double connections so that they may be appropriated either forplaying in conjunction with the middle group or in conjunction with theend groups.

From the tracker board flexible tubes of the group, H1, lead to theprincipal action, being connected with the prima-ry pneu matic ductsthereof at the top of said action as seen in Fig. 1. F or convenience ofassembling the parts, the top board, E4, of this action is extendedrearwardly. Upon the upper side of this rearward extension e4, there ismounted a slide or valve bar, J, having ports to which are connected atthe upper side flexible tubes of the group, H2, and branches, H3", ofthe group, H3, the ports of said valve bar being adapted to registerwith ports extending through the board, E4, and having at the lower endnipples to which are connected extensions of said tubes, H2 and H3",which are parted in two masses or trunks and carried around the ends ofthe manual and foundation board for connection below the foundationboard with the proper primary ducts of the supplemental action, asindicated in respect to one of the tubes, H2, and one of the tubes, H30,in Fig. l. Upon the board, E4, there is mounted another slide or valvebar, K, having ports to which are connected at the upper side of thevalve bar the branches, H31, of the group of tubes, H3, the valve barports at the lower side being adapted to register with ports in theboard, E3, leading to primary pneumatics of the principal actioncorresponding to the said tubes, H30. Both of the valve bars, J and K,are adapted for movement for registration and non* registration of theirports with those of the board, E2, on which there are mounted operatinglevers, M and N, being provided for this purpose connected with thevalve bars respectively, and fulcrumed at any convenient point, as uponthe upper end of the principal action, and extending from their fulcrumsto any convenient point for manipulation by the operator.

I claim 1. In an interior player piano, in combination with thefoundation board and man ual keys, a tracker device mounted above themanual keys; a pneumatic action mounted between the tracker device andthe manual keys, and a second pneumatic action mount-- ed below thefoundation board; ducts from the tracker device comprising a group .forconnection with the first mentioned action, a group for connection withthe second-mentioned action, and a branched group for connection withboth of said actions, the upper action having at its upper end a ductboard extending rearward and overhanging the manual provided with portsextending through it at its overhanging part, and also with the primaryducts of said action leading to ports in the upper surface of the board;a slide or valve bar mounted upon said overhanging portion having portsfor registration with the first-mentioned ports of said duct board andadapted for movement for non-registration therewith; flexible tubes fromsaid ports of said duct board leading to the lower action, said valvebar having connected to its ports the ducts of the second group and oneset of branches of the third group; a second valve bar mounted on saidduct board having ports for registration with the duct ports and adaptedfor movement for non-registration therewith, said valve bar havingconnected to it the second set of branches of the third group of ducts,and means for moving said valve bars for registration andnon-registration of their ports with those of the duct board.

2. In an interior player piano, in combination with the case, foundationboard, manual keys and tracker device, two pneumatic actions, one ofwhich is mounted above the manual keys and the other below thefoundation board, the tracker device having ducts for connection withboth said actions, the upper action having at its upper end a duct boardextending rearward and overhanging the rear portion of the manual keys;a valve bar mounted on said duct board; flexible tubes from such valvebar to the tracker device and from the overhanging portion of the ductboard to the lower pneumatic action, and means for operating the valvebar.

3. In an interior player piano, in combination with the case and trackerdevice, an upper and a lower pneumatic action, the tracker device havingducts for connection with both of said actions, the upper action havingat its upper end a duct board pro jecting rearward; a Valve bar mountedon my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, said duct board; iiexibletubes from said at Chicago, Illinois, this 25th day of March, Valve barto the tracker device and from A. D. 1909.

the rearwardly extending portion of the MELVILLE CLARK. duct board tothe lower pneumatic action, In the presence ofand means for operatingthe Valve bar. MINNIE M. LINDENAU,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set JULIA S. ABBOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of lPatents, Washington, D. C."

